Material handling machine



Filed Aprn 1945 9 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR. Beg-Lin S. Ferguson EY Filed April 2. 1945 9 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

l Berlin S. Fcrguson BY. .l

ATTO

B. S. FERGUSON Jan. 14, 1947.

MATERIAL immune MACHINE v Find Abm 2, '1945 '9 Sheets-Shed. 3

. -NVENTOK Berlin S. Ferguon, BY

ATTORNEY Jan.V 14, 1947. B. s. FERGUSN MATERIAL HANDLING MACHINE Filed April 2, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 l vp) 1 .5.,

@y T N mw L@ mr. SV .A n i l r e BY B Jan. 14, 194,7. '3. s. FERGusoN 2,414,146

IATERIAL HANDLING :Acum: i

Filed April 2. 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Arranm Jan. .14, 1941. B. s. FERGUSON MATERIAL HANDLING MACHINE Filed April 2. 1945 `9 Sheets-Sheet ANW.

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ATORNIE'YY Jan. `14, 1947. B. s. FERGUSON MATERIAL HANDLING ummm Filed April 2, 1945 9 Sheets-Shea# 'I INVENTOR. S. Ferguson Jan. 14, 1947. a. s. FERGuscN IATERIAL HANDLING UACH-INE 'rma April 2, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 0, L 6 0 z n a mw T. 44 la .MF T 3 5 .al l 9 .r au u .aan s A ---l 6 6 i--- w l l le Ill Il l l --1 .a 2. u o l I o L .a\l z l l .l l .J u R /n v ...m T 8 4. a l nx|\\/ 1 Z z Jan. 14, 1947. B. s. FERGUSON MATERIAL HANDLING MACHINE Filed April 2, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR.

Berl/im` S. .Fer

gusn

MMM vhe i7 ATTORNEYS i Patented Jan. 14, 1947 i 2,414,146 MATERIAL HANDLING-MACHINE Berlin S. Ferguson,

The Byers Machine corporation of Ohio Ravenna, Ohio, assignorto Company, Ravenna, Ohio, a

Application April 2, 1945, Serial No. 586,098

22 Claims.

This invention relates to material handling machines of the type employing hoist drums and particularly to machines of the swinging boom type such as power shovels and cranes, in which the hoisting, swinging and propelling mechanisms are mounted upon a turntable carried by a suitable truck.

The present invention has for its object to provide a hoisting mechanism suitable for use in various material handling and excavating machines of the character referred to that is so mounted and so geared to a source of power that a number of additional independently removable mechanisms may be associated therewith in a compact unit, whereby a single standard operating mechanism may be employed in a number oi different machines and whereby machines may be readily converted from one type to another by removal, addition, or interchange of parts without disturbing the main operating mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a truck mounted material handling mechanism in which the main and auxiliary operating mechanisms are so mounted and so geared to the main hoist mechanism that auxiliary mechanism may be removed without affecting the operation of the remaining mechanisms' A further object of the invention is to provide hoisting drums so associated with the other mechanisms that the drums vmay be removed without disturbing the remaining mechanisms and the other mechanisms are readily accessible without removing the drums.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention may be said to comprise the machine as illustrated in the accompanying drawings hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the appended claims, together with such variations and modifications thereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

.Reference should be had to the accompanying drawingsl forming a part of this specification. in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a dipper type power shovel embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the operating 4mechanism mounted on a turntable platform;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view ofthe mechanism on the platform;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the gear train with the housing omitted;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the 5-5 in Fig. 4;

line indicated Vat `oi the platform 2 and may be raised or are elevated when Fig. 6 is an axial section through the planetary retract mechanism mounted on the inner end of the boom;

Fig. 'l isa simplified schematic view of the operating mechanism in which the various gears, clutches, sprockets, etc. are shown in axial section;

Fig. 8 is a simplied schematic view of the retract mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the line indicated at 9-9 in Fig. 2;l

` Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale showing connections for delivering air under pressure through a drum shaft to clutches thereon;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken on the line indicated at li--ll in Fig. 2;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary detail view showing the ratchet of the lboom hoist mechanism and its pawl:

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the retract mechanism;

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the retract mechanism;

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view of the control system, and

Fig. 16 is a detail view showing one of the pairs of inter-connected pnuematic pressure control valves.

In Fig. l of the drawings the mechanism of the present invention is shown applied to a power shovel of the dipper type that is mounted upon a suitable truck l which may be of the caterpillar type. A suitable platform 2 is carried by a turntable 3 mounted on the truck i. The platform 2 provides a support for the operating mechanism and may be provided with a suitable cab 4 for housing the mechanism. A boom 5 is connected by a horizontal pivot to the forward end lowered by means of a hoist cable 5 that is anchored at one end to a strut 'll carried by the platform 2 and reeved over a block 8 attachedto the outer end of the boom and a block 9 attached to the strut l. The end of the cable 6 opposite that anchored to the strut 'i is wound on a boom hoist drum Ill carried by the platform 2. A cable il attached at one end to a hoist drum l2 and at its opposite end to the boom 5 extends over a sheave i3 at the outer end of the boom 5 and has a loop that supports a sheave i4 attached to a dipper l5, so that the sheave I4 and dipper l5 the cable il is wound up on the drum l2.

The dipper l5 is attached to the outer end of a dipper stick I6 that is slidably mounted in a e yoke il' pivoted to e, shaft itl mounted lin a bracket i@ on the boom il. vThe dipper stick it has and pinions 2li on the shaft it mesh with the rack fil to extend or retract the dipper. The shaft it? is operated to crowd the dipper by means of e. sprocket chain 252 driven by a mechenism on the platform, as will be hereinafter erroiained. Y

The scoop le has e. pivoted bottom 2li of the conventional type that may be held closed by a latch which is operated by suitable means such as a cable 255i that extends parallel with the clipper stick .it through the yoke il" and which may be wound on a drum 25 carried by the platform t which is geared to the sprocket chain 22 by means of e sprocket chain 2 6. I

@n the platform 2 adiacentone side thereof there is mounted'an elongated hollow wall t@ that extends along one side of the mechanism on racks 2d formed on the under side thereof the platform and forms a gear housing. The hollow wall t has a flange si along its top edge to receive a detachable cover Si that has a flange 33 that fits upon the flange 3i, the cover being secured to the flange ti by means of bolts llt. Horizontal drum shafts 3s and Se are mounted in the wail t@ and in a wail 3l that extends alongthe opposite side of the platform 2, the opposite end portions of the shafts Se and t being mounted in suitable bearings Sii that are detachably mounted in the top portion of the wall t@ and at the top of the wall 3i. .The bearings 3B are removably mounted in the walls 3d and 3l and the shafts 35 and 3G can be removed with the bearings Se.

an engine si! is mounted on the rear end of the platform' 2 with its shaft tl'parallel to shafts Se and 36. A short countershaft 3i mounted in the rear end of the hollow wall 3@ is driven from the shaft lill by a sprocket chain 42 which passes over a small sprocket Bs on the shaft 60 and a large sprocket 4d on the shaft 5i. I'he shaft il has a. small gear 45 within the hollow wall 36 that meshes' with a large gear t@ that is fixed to the drum shaft 35 within the hollow wall. A gear d@ on the shaft 35 meshes with a. gear 4l of the same size fixed to the drum shaft 36. The drums l2 and 25 are rotatably mounted on the shafts 35 and 3G and provided with clutches 48 and is, preferably of the pneumatic type, for connecting them to the shafts 35 and 3S. All of the independently operable power operated parts of the machine are driven through the drum shafts 85 and 38 or through the gear train which includes the gears 46 and 4l flxeol to the drum shafts, and all of the auxiliary operating mechanisms are so associatedwith the primary hoist mechanism that any or all may be removed Without affecting the operativeness of the primary hoist mechanism which comprises the winding drums it and together with the drum shafts and the gear train through Awhich the shafts are driven.

The shafts 3E and 3S project beyond the wall 3l a short distance and have gears 5U and 5l rotatably mounted thereon outside the wall 3l. 'Ihe two gears 50 and 5i mesh with a large gear 52 on a. shaft 53 that carries id. The gears 5U and 5E are provided with clutches 5d and 55, which are preferably pneumatically operated, for connecting them to the shafts 35 and 36. While the engine is being operated the drum shafts 35 and t are continuously driven in opposite directions so that when the gear 58 is clutched to the shaft 35 the boom hoist operation of the primary the boom hoist drum drum shaft @Si will be driven and when the gear di is clutche by means of the clutch d, shaft 53 will be drivenin tion.

The boom hoist m housing ed that is cetachabhV supported upon a bracket 5l secured to the well el on the outer side tlfiereof,v the housing. and mechanism therein' being removable as e. unit when desired. Since the boom hoist mechanism is operated by gears and 5i which may be released from shafts t5 and St and which engage only the gear 52; the removal of the boom hoist unit will not affect the cperationof the other mechanism on the platform.

The turntable S carries a gear 5t that is engaged by a pinion 59 mounted on a vertical shaft @il carried by the platform 2. the shaft @il having ve. bevel gear @i at its upper end that meshes with a bevel, gear 62 attached to a horizontal shaft t3 above the platform that extends throughl the housing 3S. The shaft Sie has a large gear 5&3 attached thereto within and this gear meshes with small gears and et in one direction the boom hoist drum the opposite direcrotatably mounted in short countershafts and t8 journaled in the hollow wall et, The countershafts tl and S8 have pinions te and lf3 attached thereto inwardly of pinions and fit that mesh with the gears @t and tl'. The gears S5 and St have hubs on the outer sides thereof that are provided with clutches 'li and i2 outside the gear housing that are preferably of the pneumatic type, by which either gear may be clutched to.

its shaft lSince the Agears t5 and @Sl are constantly driven in opposite directions, the gear 6d may be driven in one direction by clutching the gear 65 to the countershaft 'El and in the opposite direction by clutching the gear 66 to the countershaft 68. -By operating one or the other of the clutches 5ft or 55, the platform may be swung either in a clockwise or in a counter-clockwise direction.

The shaft 63 projects through the outer side of the hollow wall 30 and has a drum 13 xed to its projecting end. -The drum 'i3 is engaged by shoes 1d pivoted to an anchor bracket 15 and normally held in drum spring 16. The brake shoes to permit the turntable to a fluid pressure cylinder l.

Shaft 63 geared to the turntable togetherwith the gearing by which the shaft 6s is driven provides a reversible swing mechanism and this mechanism like the boom hoist mechanism is a unit that may be removed without adecting the hoist mechanism. The shaft S3 and the countershafts Si and 68 are carried by a plate l@ that forms a removable panel inthe outer side of the hollow wall 3G, the plate i9 being detachably secured in place by bolts 8G. By removing the plate 19 the swing 1Q may be released swing by means of mechanism is removable as a unit with the to the shaft te l echanism is mounted on a l the hollow wall .it

engaging position by a.

The countershaft 68 with its gears and clutcln4 roller bearings83 and 84 that are carried by a l tubular shell 85. The inner bearing 84 is interposed between the shell and the hub of the beveled gear 62 which is fastened to the inner end of shaft 63 and the outer bearing 83 abuts against the hub of the gear .64 so that the shell 85 is retained on the-.shaft 63 between the gear 62 and the gear 64. The shell 85 has portions formed to fit in the circular opening in the inner wall of the gear `housing 30 and in a wall of a housing 81 which encloses the bevel gears 6| and 62. The portion of the shell 85 that fits in the opening of the housing 81 is of greater diameter than the gear 62 and of less diameter than the portion of the shell that fits in the opening of the housing 30, so that the shaft 63 withthe gear 64, the shell 05 `and theI gear 62 are removable outwardly as a unit when thevbolts 06 that secure the shell 85 to the housing 30 are removed.

A transverse shaft 9| is journaled in the hollow wall 30 near the forward end thereof and adjacent the platform 2 and provides a drive for the truck propelling mechanism and for mechanism that retracts the clipper stick. The shaft 9|v has a gear 92 within the hollow wall 30 that meshes with the gear on the shaft 68 so that the shaft 9| is continuously driven through the gears 45, 06, 41 and 10 while the engine is running. Two oppositely facing bevel gears 93 and 94 are rotatably mounted on the shaft 9| and a sliding clutch member 95 imposed between the two gears 83 and 94 is adapted to clutch either of the gears to the shaft 9|. The gears 93 and 94 both mesh with a bevel gear 96 that has a spur gear 91 integral therewith. The gear 91 meshes with a gear 98 on a vertical shaft 99 that extends downwardly through the platform 2 and carries a bevel gear |00 at its lower end that meshes with a bevel gear I0! on a transverse driving shaft |02 which has suitable driving connections to the endless treads.

The shaft |02 is driven in one direction by the gear 93 and in the opposite direction by the gear 00. Thebevel gear 94 has a spur gear |03 integral therewith that meshes with a larger spur gear |00 on a countershaft |05 and the shaft |05 has a second gear |06 of smaller diameter than the gear |00 that meshes with a gear |01 larger than the gear |03 that is rotatably mounted upon .the shaft 9|. A shiftable clutch member |08 is slidably keyed to the shaft 9| and is engageable with the gear |01 to clutch the same to the shaft 9i.

With the clutch |08 disengaged, the truck may be driven forwardly by engaging the clutch 95 with the gear 96 or rearwardly by engaging the clutch 95 with the gear 93. With the clutch 95 in neutral position, the truck may be driven forwardly at a higher speed, the drive being through gears |01. |06, |04, |03 to the gear 94.

The shaft 9| has a sprocket |09 attached thereto which drives a sprocket chain I i0 that extends forwardly from the shaft 9| to a sprocket III on a shaft I I2 that, as best shown in Figs. 13 and 14. is journaled in a bracket II3 attached to the inner end of the boom 5, the axis of the shaft II2 being preferably in substantial allnement with the boom pivot.

The shaft I I2 has two integrally connected spro^kets II4 and I I5 rotatably mounted thereon, the sprocket II4 receiving the sprocket chain 22 and the sprocket I I5 receiving the sprocket chain 6 26 so that the dipper stick actuating pinion 2| may be driven by the sprocket chain 26. As shown in Fig. 6, a bevel gear I I6 is formed integrally with the sprockets I I4 and II5 and meshes with bevel gears II1 carried by a cage I I8 that is also rotatably mounted upon the shaft II2. Within the cage |18 there isI a bevel gear II9 oflarger diameter than the gear II6 that is fixed to the -shaft II2 and that also meshes with the cage gears II1. The cage II8 carries a brake drum |20 and a brake band |2| is provided for engaging the drum |20 to lock the cage against rotation. One end of the band |2| is anchored to a bracket |22 attached to the boom 5 outwardly of the drum |20 and the opposite end of the band |2| is attached to a lever |23 that is operated by a cylinder |24 to apply the band to the drum |20. The band |2| is normally held out of engagement with the drum |20 by a spring |25 which may be mounted within the cylinder |24 to act in opposition with the air pressure so that when the pressure is relieved the band |2| isheld in released position.

The shaft I'I.2 is continuously driven through the sprocket III and sprocket chain |110. The rotation of the shaft I I2 does not affect the operation of the sprockets I I4 and II5 unless the cage II8 is locked against movement, since when the cage is free to rotate it does not interfere with relative rotative movements of the shaft II2 and the sprockets I I4 and I I5, The chain 26 is driven from the drum 25 whenever that drum is clutched to the shaft 36 and the pinion 2| is driven through the sprocket chains 26 and 22 in. a direction to extend the clipper stick I6. When'the drum 25 is released from the shaft 36 lthe cage II8 may be locked by the brake band |2| so that the sprockets I I4"and I I5 will be driven in a direction opposite that in which they are driven from the drum 25. Since the gear I I9 is of larger diameter than the gear IIS, the reverse rotation of the sprockets II4 and II5 is faster than the forward or crowding movement.

By applying the brake |2| the dipper is retracted and the drum 25 is driven in a direction opposite that in which it is normally driven bv the shaft 36. Since the drum 25 is geared to the pinion 2| it may be employed to wind and unwind the .latch cable 24,l paying out the cable as the dipper stick I6 is extended and winding up the cable as the dipper stick `I6 is retracted, so that slack will not form in the line due to crowding and retracting movements of the scoop.

The retract mechanism is mounted :as a unit upon the inner end of the boom so thatit may be removed with the` boom and so that-li't'may be removed from th boom when desired withou't` The retract disturbing the other mechanisms. mechanism is preferably so constructed that all of its bearings may be packed with a lubricant supplied to the interior thereof through a suitable opening in the cage IIB.

As best shown in Fig. 6, a sleeve |26 is mounted on the shaft II2 inwardly of the sprocket III and a similar sleeve |21. is mounted on the opposite end of the shaft I I2, the sleeves |26 and |21 being clamped to the bracket |13 by suitable caps |28 held in placel by bolts |29 as shown in Fig. 14. Roller bearings |30 and ISI for the shaft` II2 are mounted within the sleeves |26 and |21 and roller bearings |33 are provided for the cage IIB. 'Ihe sprockets II4 and II5 andi gear H6" asienta posed between opposite ends of the shell ltd and the shaft lill. A closure plate i3? is detachably secured to the outer end of the sleeve l2? and. covers the adjacent .end of the shaft tit. n. sealing ring |38 is interposed between the sleeve l2? and the tubular shell ld, a sealing ring lli@ is interposed between the tubular shell ltand the cage iid, a sealing ring It@ is interposed between the cage llt and thesleeve itt, and a sealing ring lill is interposed between the sleeve |25 and shaft H2. The sleeves l2@ and |22', together with from the clutch dis.

the cage M8 and shell ld form a continuous lubricant retaining chamber surrounding the shaft @i2 and the sealing rings interposed between these relatively rotatable members serve to prevent leakage of lubricant.

As shown vin Figs. 9 and ll, a detachable sprocket |56 is mounted on the drum 25 to receive the sprocket chain 2S. The sprocket ide is made in two semi-circular halves that are clamped to gether on the drum by means of bolts tell. The sprocket ll also has a side flange it@ that is attached by means oibolts its to a side flange of the drum 25.

When an excavator of the dipper type is employed the sprocket ida on the drum 25 provides a convenient means for driving the clipper stiel: actuating pinion in a direction to crowd the dipper. However, when the mechanism is employed for operating other types of material handling devices, the sprockets M6 may be quickly and easily removed from the drum 2t 'so that this drum may .be employed for operating a drag line or hoist cable.

The drums |2 and 25 carry brake drums l5@ and |5| that may be engaged |by brake bands l5@ and |53 for locking the drums against rotation when desired.

l As best shown in Fig. 1.1, the boom hoist drum shaft 53'is provided with a threaded portion it@ that engages with. the drum l@ which serves to shift the drum bodily toward or away from a ratchet |55. The Iboom hoist drum operating mechanism is designed to prevent the transmission of the boom load to the driving mechanism during rotation of the drum i in a direction to lower the boom,'the ratchet I 55 being held against rotation in the unwinding direction by a suitable pawl |56 and the thread |54 being such that the drum I0 is crowded toward the ratchet |55 by the pull of the boom hoist cable, this mechanism being substantially the same as that shown in my Patent No. 2,357,462 issued September 5, 1944. In order to eliminate the noise of the ratchet pounding on the pawl during the hoisting operation, a spring l is provided that exerts pressure in an axial direction on the pawl ld, the pawl being slidable on its pivot and having a radially projecting arm |58 that carries a friction shoe |59 that engages with a, side face of the ratche |55. When the drum Ill is rotated in a direction to elevate the boom, the engagement of the friction shoe |59 with the ratchet |55 swings the pawl |56 out of engagement, with the ratchet. When the drum is rotated in the opposite direction the friction shoe |59 swings the pawl |56 into ratchet engaging position to lock the ratchet against rotation. The shaft 53 may also be provided with a brake ESG.

The engine 39 operates an air compressor |6| that supplies air under pressure to a suitable pressure tank |62 and a pipe |63 delivers air under pressure from the tank |62 to a manifold |66 from which the air is delivered through suitable control valves to the various operating clutches vte Pipes it@ and it@ extend from the boom hoist control clutches 5t and 'to valves il@ and lli that are connected to theY manifold lee by pipes il? and H3. The two valves il@ and iii are operated by a hand lever l 'de that is so'connected to the valves thatmovementoi the lever il@ in one direction from a neutral position operates the "clutch d and movement oi the lever il@ in the opposite direction :from its neutral position opern ates the clutch .55. A suitable operating .connec y tion between the lever lili and the two valves controlled thereby is shown in Fig. 16 of the drawings, in which a link |`l5 is shown connected to the lever llil and to a rod llt that is slidably mounted in brackets lll and llc. The rod l'i projects through the brackets and has arms il@ and xed thereto on opposite sides of the brackets. The valves il@ and lll are mounted in the brackets lll and |78 and are operated by the armsll@ and ld. Springs |36 and |32 are interposed between the arms |19 and' it!) and the vbrackets il? and ll so as to normally hold the rod llt in a, position in which both arms il@ and i8@ are spaced from the ends of the valves il@ and lll. The two arms |79 and '|89 are providedl with adjustable valve actuating screws |83 and |84 which serve to engage and open the valves when the arms are moved toward the valves by the retract mechanism to a valve i8@ that isI connected by a pipe to the manifold ld., The valves |86 and |89 are interconnected in the same manner as the valves il@ and lll and are operated by a hand lever |9|`. By interconnecting the brake operated cylinder l 26 and the clutch 49, release of the clutch 49 when the brake itl is applied isv insuredand the brake |26 is re leased when the clutch |19 is applied.

Pipes |92 and |93 connect the swing control clutches 'li and 'l2 to valves ld and lh that are connected by pipes |96 and |97 to the manifold it, The valves and |95 are interconnected in the same manner as the valves il@ and lll to insure alternate operation and are actu ated by means of a hand lever itt. A pipe Mill connects the brake operated cylinder l to the pressureline |63 and is provided with a valve 23| by means of which pressure may be delivered to the cylinder i8 to apply the .brakell to loci; the turntable against rotation.

The steering of the tractor is accomplished as is common practice in the art, by operating clutches, that connect the two endless treads to the propelling shaft. Pneumatically operated steering clutches are preferably employed and these clutches are controlled by valves 202 and 203 that are operated by pedals 20d and 265. The valves 202 and 203 are connected by pipes 206 and Elli to the manifold Ill and by pipes 2% and 269 to tread control clutches 2|@ and 2li, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. l5.

The brakes |52 and |53 that may be set to hold lever itil, the `valve itt is positioned to the exhaust pressure the drums 12 and 25 against rotation are preferably operated by treadles that are mechanically connected to the brake bands. The band E52 which locks the drum I2 is connected through a lever 212 and a cable 213 to a suitable treadle 214, and the band 15:1 for locking the drum 25 is connected through a lever 215 and a cablel 216 to a suitable treadle 211.

The clutch |05 is operated by a suitable` shifter lever 210 and the clutch 108 is operated by a' shifter lever 210, the operation of the two clutches As shown in Fig. 4, the operating mechanism f is so mounted on the platform 2 that clearance is provided between the mechanism and opposite sides of the eab and between the mechanism in the forward end of the cab so that the auxiliary actuating units carried by the Walls 30 and 31 are conveniently accessible. The control levers i01, 11d, |91 and 198 are grouped adjacent the operators position on theplatform, the hand levers and operating pedals being conveniently positioned so that the operator may use both hands and both feet forcontrolling various operations,

The mechanism of the present invention is s designed that various parts thereof can be removed for repair without interfering with the operation of the machine. For example, if the boom hoist mechanism should get out of repair, the boom could be lashed in a fixed position and the shovel operated with the boom hoist drum and its operating mechanism entirely removed. If the swing mechanism should be damaged this mechanism could be removed with the panel 19, after which the shovel could be operated by manipulating the tractor to swing the Y shovel until the necessary repairs could be made.

Also, the mechanism of the present invention is adapted to be employed on material handling devices of various kinds, merely omitting certain the mechanisms where particular operationsof performed by these mechanisms are not required.

For example, in a power shovel with a fixed boom the mechanism could b e employed with the boom hoist drum and its operating mechanism omitted. If the lateral swinging of the boom is not required, the swing mechanism can be omitted. When the mechanism is employed to operate mechanisms other than a power shovel of the clipper type, the crowd and retract mechanisms can be omitted.

A single machine may thus, by simple alterations, be adapted to any of a number of different uses and considerable economy is effected in the manufacture of material handling machines by reason of the employment of the same primary operating mechanism for 'a number of different machines.

It is to be understood that variations and modiflcations of the specific device herein shown and described for purposes of illustration, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is: l

1. In a` machine of the character described, a truck having a supporting platform, two spaced upright supports on said platform, one of said supports being in the form of a hollow wall and providing a gear housing, two parallel transverse shafts journaled in saidsupports, a driving shaft extending into the hollow wall at one end, a driven` shaft extending into the hollow wall at the opposite end, clutch controlled drums on said transverse shafts between said supports, intermeshing gears fixed to said drum shafts within the hollow wall, a gear xed to the driving shaft meshing with one of said drum shaft gears, a gear on the driven shaft meshing with the other drum shaft gear, and truck propelling means operated by said driven shaft.

2. In a machine of the character described, a truck having a supporting platform, two spaced upright supports on said platform, one of said supports being in the form of a hollow wall and providing a gear housing, two parallel transverse shafts journaled in said supports, each of said shafts extending into the hollow wall and having gear receiving ends projecting past the supports for the opposite ends of said shafts. a drum rotatably mounted on each of said shafts between said supports, a releasable 4clutch interposed between each drum and its shaft, intermeshing gears fixed to said shafts within the hollow wall, a drive shaft having a gear within the hollow wall meshing with one of said drum shaft gears. a reversible driving mechanism having a clutch controlled driving connection to each of said intermeshing gears, and a second reversible mechanism having a clutch controlled driving connection to each of said shafts lincluding gears on said projecting ends of said shafts.

3. In a machine of the character described, a turntable, a supporting platform on said turntable, a boom pivoted tothe platform, two spaced upright supports on said platform, one of said supports being in the form of a hollow wall and providing a gear housing, two parallel transverse shafts journaled in the upper portions lof said supports, winding drums rotatably mounted on said shafts between said supports., aclutch associated with each drum for connecting the same to or disconnecting the same from its shaft, intermeshing gears flxedto said shafts within said hollow wall, a drive shaft geared to one of said drum shafts, aboom hoist mechanism adjacent one of said supporta'a swing mechanism for operating the turntable mounted on the other of said supports, and a clutch controlled driving connection from each drum shaft tol each of said upright supports on said platform, one of said' supports being in the form of a hollow wall and 4providing a gear housing, two parallel transverse shafts journaled in the upper portions of said supports, winding drums rotatably mounted on said shafts between said supports, a clutch associated with each drum Vfor connecting the same to or disconnecting the same from its shaft, intermeshing gears fixed to said shafts within said hollow wall, a drive shaft geared to one of said drum shafts, a boom hoist mechanism mounted externally of one of said supports, and a clutch controlled driving connection from each of said drum shafts to said mechanism.

5. In a machine of the character described, a turntable, a supporting platform on said turntable, a boom pivoted to the' platform, two spaced upright supports on said platformwone of said supports being, in the form of a hollow wall and said drum shafts, a boom hoist mechanism in the form of a unit adjacent one of said supports externally thereof below said drum shafts, a boom hoist drive gear rotatably mounted on each drum shaft, a releasable clutch for connecting each of i said drive gears to its shaft, and a gear forming a part of said boom hoist mechanism and meshing with both of said drive gears.

6. In a machine of the character-described, a. turntable, a supporting platform on said turntable, a boom pivoted to the platform, two spaced upright supports on said platform, one of said supports being in the form of a hollow wall and providing a gear housing, two parallel transverse shafts journaled in the upper portions of said supports. winding drums rotatably mounted on said shafts between said supports, a clutch associated with each drum for connecting the same to or disconnecting the same from its shaft, intermeshing gears fixed to said shafts within said hollow wall, a drive shaft geared to one of said drum shafts, a boom hoist mechanism ad'- jacent one of saidsupports, a swing mechanism for operating the turntable mounted on the other of said supports. and a clutch controlled driving connection from each drum shaft to each of said mechanisms, each driving connection including .intermeshing gears one of which is on one of said drum shafts, each of said mechanisms being removable without disturbing said drum shafts or their driving connections.

7. In a machine of the character described, a truck having a platform, a boom pivoted to the platform, a pair of spaced upright supports on said platform and positioned transversely to the axis of the boom pivot, one of said supports being a hollow wall and forming a gear housing, two transverse shafts journaled in said supports, winding drums rotatably mounted on said shafts between said supports, a clutch for releasably connecting each drum to its shaft, a drive shaft, gearing in said hollow wall forming a driving connection between said drum shafts and between said shafts and said drive shaft, a gear rotatably mounted on each drum shaft, a clutch associated with each of said gears, a boom hoist mechanism having a winding drum and a shaft supporting I the same, and a gear on said boom hoist drum shaft meshing with said clutchcontrolled gears,

8. In a machine of the character described, a truck having a platform, a boom pivoted to the platform, a pair of spaced upright supports on said platform and positioned transversely to the axis of the boom pivot, one of said supports being a hollow wall and forming a gear housing, two transverse shafts `iournaled' in said supports, winding drums rotatably mounted on said shafts between said supports, a clutch for releasably connecting each drum to its shaft, a drive shaft,

gearing in said hollow wall forming a driving connection between said drum shafts and between said shafts and said drive shaft, a gear rotatably rmountedon each drum shaft, a clutch associated with each "of said gears, a boom hoist mechanism mounted exteriorly of one of l said walls, said mechanism having a winding drum shaft parallel to and below the first mentioned drum shafts,

.and a gear on said boom hoist drum shaft meshing with said clutch controlled gears.

9. In a machine of the character described, a turntable, a platform onl the turntable, apair of yspaced upright supports on said plat-form, one of the supports being a hollow wall and forming a gear housing, two transverse shafts journaled in said, supports, clutch controlled winding drums carried by said shafts between said supports,l in- 'termeshing gears fixed to said shafts within the hollow wall, a driving shaft having a gear meshing with one of said intermeshing gears, a swing mechanism for operating said turntable having a shaft `journaled in said hollow wall, a gear xed to the latter shaft within the hollow wall, two countershafts journaled in said hollow wall and each having a gear fixed thereto and meshing with a drum shaft gear and having a secondgear Arotatably mounted thereon and meshing with the swing shaft gear, clutches on said countershafts for connecting said rotatably mounted ,gears thereto, and means for selectively operating said clutches.

10. In a machine of the character described, a turntable, a platform on the turntable, a pair of spaced upright supports on said platform, one of the supports being -a hollow wall and forming a gear housing, two transverse shafts journaled in said supports, clutch controlled winding drums carried by said shafts between said supports, intermeshing gears iixed to said shafts within the hollow wall, a driving shaft having a gear meshing with one of said intermeshing gears, a swing mechanism for operating said turntable having a shaft journaled in said hollow wall, a gear fixed tov the latter shaft within thehollow wall, two countershafts journaled in said hollow wall and each having a gear fixed thereto and meshing with a drum shaft gear and having a second gear rotatably mounted thereon and meshing with the swing shaft gear, each of said countershafts proy' jecting past the outer housing wall, a clutch on each'of said countershafts outside said wall, and means for supporting each of said countershafts on said hollow wall for removal with its gearsv as a unit from said hollow wall.

1 1. In a machine of the character described, a

turntable, a platform on the turntable, a pair of spaced upright supports on said platform, one of to the latter shaft within the hollow wall, two

countershafts journaled' in said hollow wall and each having a gear fixed thereto and meshing with a drum shaft gear and having a second gear rotatably mounted thereon and meshing with the swing shaft gear, clutches on said countershafts for connecting said rotatably mounted gears thereto, and means for supporting the swing mechanism shaft and said countershafts for removal as a unit from said hollow wall.

12. In a machine of the character described, a turntable, a platform on the turntable, a pair of spaced upright supports on said platform, one of said supports being a hollow wall and forming a gear housing, said hollow wall having a removable panel in its outer wall, two transverse shafts journaled in said supports above said panel,

sprocket chains aardige clutch controlled winding drums carried by said shafts between said supports, intermeshing gears fixed to said shafts within the hollow wall, a shaft iournaled in said panel parallel with said drum shafts and below the same, gearing interposed between said lower shaft and the turntable, a gear fixed to said lower shaft within the hollow wall, two countershafts journaled in said panel and each having a gear meshing with the gear on said lower shaft and a gear meshing with a gear on a drum shaft, 'and a clutch controlling one of the gears on each countershaft, said lower shaft and countershafts with the gears thereon being removable with said panel.

13. In a machine of the character described, a turntable, a platform on the turntable, a pair of spaced upright supports on said platform, one of said supports being a hollow wall and forming a gear housing, said hollow wall having a removable panel in its outer wall, two transverse shafts journaled in said supports above said panel, clutch controlled winding drums carried by said shafts between said supports, intermeshing gears fixed to said shafts within the hollow wall, a shaft journaled in said panel and projecting upon opposite sides of said hollow wall, a gear attached to said shaft inwardly of the hollow wall, a driving connection between the latter gear and the turntable, a brake drum attached to said projecting shaft outside the panel, brake shoes carried by the panel and engaging said brake drum', reverse driving connections from said drum shafts to said projecting shaft within the hollow wall. and clutches controlling said driving connections, said clutches and driving connections being mounted on said panel for removal therewith.

14. In a machine of the character described, a truck having a turntable with a platform thereon, a boom carried by the platform, a dipper carried by the boom, a driven shaft on said platform, a winding drum rotatably mounted on said shaft, a clutch on said shaft for releasably connecting the drum to the shaft, a dipper actuating mechanism on the boom including a sprocket, a countershaft adjacent the inner end of said boom, sprockets connected to turn in unison on said countershaft, a sprocket attached to said drum, sprocket chains running from said countershaft sprockets to said drum sprocket and to said actuating mechanism sprocket, a driving connection between said driven shaft and said countershaft, a planetary gearing comprising a gear rotatable with said countershaft sprockets, a gear fixed to the countershaft and a cage rotating on said countershaft and having planet gears running on said shaft and sprocket gears, and a brake for holding said cage against rotation to reverse the direction of movement of said actu` ating mechanism and said drum.

15. In a machine of the character described, a ltruck having a turntable with a platform thereon, a boom carried by the platform, a dipper carried by the boom, a driven shaft on said platform, a winding drum rotatably mounted on said shaft, a clutch on said shaft for releasably connecting the drum to the shaft, a dipper actuating mechanism on the boom-including a sprocket, a countershaft adjacent the inner end of said boom, sprockets connected to turn in unison on said countershaft, a sprocket attached to said drum, running from said countershaft sprockets to said drum sprocket and to said actuating mechanism sprocket, a driving connection between said driven shaft and said countershaft, a planetary gearing comprising a bevel gear id l fixed to said countershaft sprockets, a bevel gear fixed to said countershaft and of larger diameter than the gear fixed to the sprockets and a cage rotatable on said countershaft and having a bevel gear meshing with the two first mentioned bevel gears, a brake for holding said cage against rotation, and means for actuating said drum clutch and brake including a control member movable in one direction to apply the clutch and -in the vopposite direction to apply the brake.

16. In a machine of the character described, a truck having a turntable with a supporting platform thereon, a boom pivoted to the forward end of the platform to swing about a horizontal axis,

f two spaced upright walls extending lengthwise of theplatform, one of said walls being hollow and providing a gear housing, two parallel transverse `shafts mounted in the upper portions of said walls, each of said shafts vhaving one end extending into the hollow wall and its opposite end projecting past nthe other wall, a driving shaft journaied in the hollow wall adjacent the rear end thereof, a driven shaft journaled in the hollow wall adjacent the forward end thereof, gearing in the hollow wall connecting the driving shaft to the driven shaft and to said transverse shafts, a drum rotatable on each of the transverse shafts between said walls, clutches for connecting said drums to said shafts, a swing mechanism positioned below said drums and extending inwardly from said hollow wall, means including gears in said hollow wall for driving said swing mechanism, a boom hoist mechanism detachably mounted on the opposite wall exteriorly thereof and below the drum shafts, a clutch controlled driving connection between the projecting end of each drum shaft and' said boom hoist mechanism. and truck propelling mechanism geared. to Vsaid driven shaft.

17. In a machine of the character described, a truck having a turntable with a supporting platfcrm thereon. a boom pivoted to the forward end of said platform, two spaced upright walls extending lengthwise of saidplatform, two transverse shafts journaled in said walls, drums rotatably mounted on said shafts between said walls, clutches for connecting said drums to said shafts, a drive shaft adjacent the rear end of one of said walls, a driven shaft mounted adjacent the forward ends of said walls, truck driving means operated by said driven shaft, a gear train form ing a driving connection from the driving to the driven shafts and including intermeshing gears fixed to said drum shafts, a reversible boom hoist mechanism detachablyl mounted on one of said walls below the d rurn shafts and havingI a clutch controlled driving connection to each of said drum shafts. a reversible swing mechanism detachably mounted on the other of said walls'below the drum shafts and having a clutch controlled driving connection with each of said drum shafts.

18. In a machine of the character described, a turntable, a platform on the turntable, two spaced upright walls on the platform o'ne of said walls beinghollow and forming a gear housing, two parallel transverse shafts journaled in said walls. winding drums rotatably mounted on said shafts between said walls, clutches for releasably connecting the drums to said shafts, intermeshing gears on said shafts and positioned within said hollow wall, driving means operatively., connected to one of said gears, a swing mechanism for operating the turntable having a shaft parallel to the drum shafts and below the same, said swing mechanism shaft being mounted in said agrarias i5 hollow wall, a gear on the swing mechanism shaft within thelhollow Wall, a countershaft mounted in the hollow wall and having an end projecting from the outer side of said wall, a gear fixed to the countershaft meshing with one of the drum shaft gears, a gear rotatable on the countershaft and meshing with the swing shaft gear, said rotatably mounted gear having a hub projecting through thev outer wall of the gear housing, a clutch exteriorly of the housing coacting with said hub to releasably connect the same to the countershaft, a bearing member carried by the hub that is of a diameter larger than the countershaft gears, and means for detachably securing said bearing in the housing wall so that the countershaft with its clutch and attached gears may be removed as a unitfrom the housing.

19. in a machine of the character described a hollow upright wall forming a gear housing, two transverse shafts journald in said housing, intermeshing `spur gears on said shafts, driving means acting upon one of said gears, a reversible mechanism having a shaft j ournaled in said housing, a gear xed to said shaft within the housing, two countershafts journaled'in said housing and each having a gear xed thereto, the latter gears meshing, one with each of said spur gears, a gear vrotatable on each of said countershafts and meshing with said gear on the shaft Yci the reversible mechanism, a clutch on each countershaft outside the housing for connecting the gears rotatable on the countershaft to said countershaft, and means for supporting each countershaft in Asaid housing for removal with its gears as a unit from said housing.

20. In a machine of the character described a hollow upright wall forming a gear housing, two transverse shafts journaled in said housing, in termeshing spur gears on said shafts, driving means acting upon one of said gears, a reversible mechanism having a shaft Journaled in said housing, a gear fixed to said shaft withinthe housing, two countershafts journaled in said housing and each-having a gear fixed thereto, the latter gears meshing, one with each of said spur gears, a gear rotatable on each of said countershafts and meshing with said gear on the shaft of the reversible mechanism, a clutch on each countershaft outside the housing for connecting the gears rotata ble on the countershaft to said countershaft, means for supporting said reversible mechanismshaft for removal as a unit with its gear from said housing, and means for supporting each having a gear fixed thereto and journaled in said panel, the latter shaft hav- Y ing a gear xed thereto within the housing, two

countershafts extending into said housing and journaled in said panels, said countershafts each and a gear rotatable to the countershafts said spur gears, and

thereon, the gears fixed meshing, one with each of the gears rotatable on the countershafts meshing with the gear on the reversible mechanism shaft, and a clutch on each countershaft outside the housing for connecting the gear rotatable on the countershaft to said countershaft, said reversible mechanism shaft and said countershafts with their gears being removable as a unit with said panel from said housing.

22. In a machine of thecharacter described a hollow upright wail forming a gear housing, said housing having a removable panel on the outer side thereof, two transverse shafts journaled in said housing and having intermeshing spur gears thereon Within the housing, driving means acting upon one of said gears, a reversible mechanism having a shaft extending through the housing and journaled in said panel, the latter shaft having a gear fixed thereto within the housing, two countershafts extending into said housing and journaled in said panels, said countershafts each having a gear iixed thereto and a gear rotatable thereon, the gears fixed to the countershafts meshing, one with each of said-spur gears," and the gears rotatable on the countershafts meshing with the gear on the reversible mechanism shaft, and a clutch on each countershaft outside the housing for connecting the gearrotatable on the countershaft to said countershaft, saidreversible mechanism shaft and said countershafts with their gears being removable as a unit with said panel from said housing, each of said countershafts being mounted for removal as a unit with its gears from said housing independently of said panel. I

' BERLIN s. genetisch. 

